Sheriff Wendell Beam, David Gibson served notice of lawsuit; $8 million in damages estimated

David Gibson, the former captain of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Uniform Patrol Division, and Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam have received statutory notification that four female employees of the Sheriff’s Office intend to file suit against them in both their official and private capacities. The anti-litem served on local officials estimates the four women’s damages at $2 million each. Photo courtesy of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Four employees of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office – Karen Law, Kimberly Barnett, Jessica Kelley and Misty Piper – have met a statutory requirement by serving legal notice of their intent to sue former SCSO employee David Gibson and Sheriff Wendell Beam, each in their individual and official capacities.

Local officials received the legal notification July 10.

Through an Open Records request, The Grip learned the four women, who are represented by Eleanor Attwood, of Legare, Attwood and Wolfe LLC, allege a number of damages and intend to seek an estimated $2 million each in compensatory and punitive damages.

“My clients will assert state law tort claims of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent supervision/retention. Additionally, we will assert federal law claims of gender discrimination under the Equal Protection Clause and Title VII,” Attwood wrote in the anti-litem notification sent to notify officials of the claim.

Attwood went on to outline her clients’ claims against Gibson and Beam and the monetary damages being sought.

“Over the past decade, former captain of the Sheriff’s Office, David Gibson, sexually harassed, intimidated and/or physically assaulted my clients. Sheriff Beam and former Sheriff Dee Stewart received numerous complaints regarding Gibson’s misconduct, but failed to take corrective action, affording Gibson the opportunity to continue his sexual misconduct towards my clients,” Attwood wrote. “As a result of misconduct and the Sheriff’s Office failure to take corrective action, my clients have suffered emotional distress for which they are entitled to compensatory and punitive damages. Overall, my clients have suffered substantial damages because of the actions of the defendants estimated at $2 million each.”

Gibson, a 27-year employee of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, retired in lieu of termination May 21 in the midst of an Internal Affairs investigation. The allegations against Gibson included sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment, improper use of the Internet, conduct unbecoming a deputy and violating his oath of office.

The investigation originated in the SCSO, but was concluded by Administrative Lt. Ronald Brainard, of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office.

Brainard’s 66-page final report stated numerous allegations against Gibson had been substantiated, documented the former captain’s conduct had been ongoing for a number of years, was commonly-known by SCSO personnel to include the supervisory staff and that multiple complaints about Gibson’s conduct had been made.

Publisher’s note: The Grip has not previously identified the women that made allegations of sexual misconduct against David Gibson, however, the statutory legal notification Attwood submitted to officials has identified them in public documents.

Comments

Why should officers Gibsson be given his retirement, rather than being for committing sexual harassment? He should not receive any benefits at all. Could it be because he’s, or was, a police officer himself? Yes, I think so. Anyone else, would have been tried and placed in prison, but not the protected officers of law enforcement. Score “Another WIN for law enforcement.” Why should anyone be rewarded for committing a crime?

Do they have legal proof,instead of he said/she said BULLCRAP? Like documents from doctors or hospital? Don’t blame anyone till you see the proof for yourself,too many innocent people being blamed for this and that without proof,and then again..some like Morgan&Morgan had proof on someone but didn’t bring it out in court,now they are being sued!!

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